YLD Announces 2012 Law Day Art & Essay Contest

The Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division has announced the 2012 Law Day Art & Essay Contest, which gives students the opportunity to express their ideas about living in a society that is governed by the rule of law, and achieve statewide recognition for their work.

The 2012 competition theme, "No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom" asks students to consider the importance of the courts and their role in ensuring access to justice for all Americans. Open and accessible courts are fundamental for a free society. They also impact the well being of entire communities. For example, courts play a special role in protecting the least advantaged, they provide a place to resolve difficult family situations, and they keep American business alive by providing a place to enforce contracts and settle disputes. By providing a fair and impartial forum, the courts benefit us all -- even those who have never been inside a courtroom.

Unfortunately, in many states, funding cuts are crippling courts' ability to fulfill this role.

Even before the economic downturn, courts were understaffed and overworked. Now with the financial crisis, even more people are turning to the courts to help with foreclosures, bankruptcies and evictions. Meanwhile state and local governments have imposed severe budget cuts. As a result, many courts have been forced to implement hiring freezes, pay cuts, layoffs, reduced hours and facility closures. If these trends continue, courts will lack the staff and resources they need to process cases in a timely and effective manner -- resulting in justice being delayed and denied.

Law Day was first celebrated in 1958. Now, each May, state and local bar associations, in conjunction with the American Bar Association, sponsor Law Day programs around the country. The purpose of celebrating Law Day is two-fold: (1) to instill in students an appreciation for the law and foster a greater understanding of the American judicial system, and (2) provide an opportunity for attorneys to serve their local communities.

Art Contest

2012 Law Day Art Contest is open to all Tennessee students in Kindergarten through 8th grade.

Rules
1. All entries must be submitted on paper no smaller than 8 by 10 inches, and no larger than 12 by 18 inches.
2. Entrants may use any art material in creating their entries, including, but not limited to, crayon, watercolor, magic marker, pen, ink, pencil and charcoal.
3. Entrants may not glue or attach anything to the entry. (We do not want pieces of the artwork to fall off in transit.)
4. All entries must depict the current year Law Day theme.
5. Entries must be submitted to the appropriate district representative and postmarked no later than April 13, 2012.
6. Each entry must contain the following information on the reverse side of the artwork:
(a) Student's full name
(b) Student's address and home telephone number
(c) Name of the student's school
(d) Student's grade level
7. Failure to abide by these rules will result in disqualification of the entry.
8. Entries may not be returned.

Prizes
First Place: $100 and a certificate of achievement
Second Place: $50 and a certificate of achievement
Third Place: $25 and a certificate of achievement
Honorable Mention: a certificate of achievement

Essay Contest

The 2012 Law Day Essay Contest is open to all Tennessee students in 9th through 12th grades.

Rules
1. All essays must be original. If quotations from other sources are used, the writer must cite the source in footnotes.
2. Essays must not exceed 1,000 words.
3. Essay must be typewritten and double-spaced.
4. All entries must depict the current year Law Day theme.
5. Essays must have a cover page that contains the following information:
(a) Writer's full name
(b) Writer's home address and home telephone number
(c) Name of the writer's school
(d) Writer's grade level
6. The writer's name must be on the cover page, but must not be on any other page or part of the essay.
7. All essays must be submitted to the appropriate district representative and postmarked no later than April 13, 2012.
8. Essays will be judged primarily on content and originality; however, incorrect grammar, spelling and/or punctuation, if excessive, will be taken into consideration.
9. Failure to abide by these rules will result in disqualification of the entry.

Prizes
First Place: $300 and a certificate of achievement
Second Place: $200 and a certificate of achievement
Third Place: $100 and a certificate of achievement
Honorable Mention: a certificate of achievement